What is the acceptance rate at University of Northern Iowa?

University of Northern Iowa's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Cedar Falls, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for University of Northern Iowa?

Admitted students at University of Northern Iowa typically score 1020–1280 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does University of Northern Iowa cost?

At University of Northern Iowa, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,901 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend University of Northern Iowa?

University of Northern Iowa enrolls approximately 7,529 undergraduate students.

Where is University of Northern Iowa located?

University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA.

University of Northern Iowa: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

← All schools

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IApublicuni.edu

Acceptance

93%

SAT 25–75

1020–1280

Avg net price

$15,901

Earnings (10 yr)

$55,177

Graduation rate

68%

Admit rate has ranged 79%–95% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

The University of Northern Iowa is Iowa's most accessible public university, a place where a 93% acceptance rate opens the door to a surprisingly focused and practical education. Its identity is anchored in teacher preparation and business—nearly half of all graduates earn degrees in those fields—creating a campus culture that values pragmatism, community, and strong first-job outcomes over cutthroat prestige. Think of it as the workhorse of the Iowa Regents system: friendly, unpretentious, and laser-focused on turning students into employable professionals, especially within the state.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 7,529
In-state tuition: $9,936
Out-of-state tuition: $21,712
No-Loan Policy: No
Graduation Rate: 68%
Meets Full Need: No
ED Share of Class: N/A (No Early Decision)
Most Popular Major: Education (28% of grads)
First-Year Retention: Data not in provided sources
Demonstrated Interest: Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr): $55,177

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $55,177
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.5×
Median debt at graduation: $19,691
Graduation rate: 68%
First-year retention: 82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 73%
Pell (lower-income) share: 27%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients): 22%

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians$71,643
Construction Management$63,997
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$60,771
Computer Science$60,399
Management Information Systems and Services$58,673
Statistics$57,318

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 10
Per 1,000 students: 1.10

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 90
Summer high: 82°F
Winter low: 15°F
Annual rain: 35"
Annual snow: 29.6"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 197
Scholarly works: 11,195

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.1%
Bottom → top quintile: 32%
From bottom quintile: 4%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at University of Northern Iowa?: University of Northern Iowa's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Cedar Falls, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of Northern Iowa?: Admitted students at University of Northern Iowa typically score 1020–1280 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of Northern Iowa cost?: At University of Northern Iowa, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,901 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Northern Iowa?: University of Northern Iowa enrolls approximately 7,529 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Northern Iowa located?: University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA.

Admissions

UNI is one of the least selective public universities in the country, with an open-door ethos for Iowa students. The admissions process is straightforward and formulaic, prioritizing academic readiness over holistic intangibles. The university does not offer an Early Decision program, and all applicants are considered under a single, rolling admissions plan.

Academic factors dominate the evaluation. According to the , the rigor of a student's secondary school record, their GPA, and standardized test scores are all considered "very important." Class rank and recommendations are "important." Notably, the non-academic factors that many selective colleges weigh heavily—like the essay, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character, and status—are all listed as "not considered" in the admissions decision. Demonstrated interest is also "not considered." This creates a transparent, numbers-driven process where a student's academic profile is the primary determinant.

For the admitted class, the middle 50% SAT range is 1020–1280, and the middle 50% ACT range is 19–25. The average high school GPA of entering freshmen is 3.6. While the is high, the rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is 31%, indicating that many admitted students choose other options.

ie.uni.edu ie.uni.edu bigfuture.collegeboard.org prepscholar.com